The Brendan Rodgers era begins for the Reds this weekend with renewed optimism that the popular Northern Irishman can guide the club back into the Champions League. The second coming of Kenny Dalglish turned into a nightmare that many on Merseyside are still trying to eradicate from their memory centres. Upheaval was expected at Anfield in the wake of Rodgers' arrival but the 39-year-old has made only a few cosmetic changes to the squad makeup intstead opting to retain a settled core of players to guide him through what could be a bumpy first season at the helm. Dirk Kuyt, Maxi Rodriguez and Craig Bellamy were shipped out in a bid to ease the wage bill with young and hungry players, keen to prove themselves on a big stage, brought in to replace them. The jury is still out on the money spent to acquire Fabio Borini and Joe Allen but the signing of Morocco winger Oussama Assaidi at a relatively small sum is considered somewhat of a coup. Whether they are the players to carry the Reds back into the promised line remains to be seen. The battle to climb back to the top begins now.
This week on FFC does Luis Suarez owe the Reds after they stood by him last season and could Rodgers be about to add two more players to his squad ahead of the transfer deadline?
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Best of FFC
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Brendan Rodgers waiting for news on two signings
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Best of WEB
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Will New Style Also Bring Substance? - Live 4 Liverpool
Rodgers close to signing €10m La Liga ace - Liverpool Kop
Liverpool FC’s future of remaking the past - This is Anfield
Lawro insists: Joe Allen is a 'better player' than £20m LFC flop. Agree...? - Liverpool Kop
From the Tawe to the Mersey - The Tomkins Times
A Bit of Wild Optimism to Start the Season Off… - Live 4 Liverpool
Year Zero: Time for the talking to stop and to support Rodgers’ vision - This is Anfield
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Quote of the Week
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"I've said right from the off I want to make us as competitive as we can possibly be. The challenge at the top of the table is greater than ever. Now there are seven or eight teams involved but the top four is certainly not something we'll shy away from. It's where a club of this status wants to be but it's always easier said than done and the reality over the past three seasons or so hasn't been that." Brendan Rodgers wants to challenge for the top four in his first season as Liverpool boss
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